Bubble-removing apparatus

Abstract

A bubble-removing apparatus has a main body having a central axis, a main chamber, an inflow port for introducing a fluid containing entrained bubbles tangentially into the main chamber so that the fluid is caused to rotate in the main chamber about the central axis to cause the bubbles to separate from the fluid and collect around the central axis, an outflow port for discharging the fluid, and a discharge outlet for discharging the bubbles separated from the fluid. A valve chamber is disposed between the discharge outlet and the main chamber, and a block member is disposed in the valve chamber and has a through-hole in fluid communication with the main chamber. A float member is disposed over the block member and undergoes movement within the valve chamber in response to changes in internal pressure within the main chamber to place the through-hole of the block member into and out of fluid communication with the discharge outlet to thereby control the discharge of the bubbles from the discharge outlet.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A bubble-removing apparatus comprising: 
       a main body having a central axis and a main chamber comprised of a first chamber portion, a second chamber portion, and a third chamber portion connecting the first chamber portion in fluid communication with the second chamber portion;  
       a stationary rod disposed in the main chamber along the central axis;  
       at least one inflow port disposed in the main body for introducing a fluid containing entrained bubbles tangentially into the main chamber so that the fluid is caused to rotate in the first, second and third chamber portions about the central axis to thereby cause the bubbles to separate from the fluid and collect around the rod;  
       an outflow port disposed in the main body for discharging the fluid from which entrained bubbles have been separated;  
       a discharge outlet for discharging the bubbles separated from the fluid;  
       a valve chamber disposed between the discharge outlet and the first chamber portion of the main chamber;  
       a block member disposed in the valve chamber and having a through-hole in fluid communication with the first chamber portion of the main chamber; and  
       a float member disposed in the valve chamber for undergoing movement therein relative to the block member, the float member being disposed over the block member so that a first gap is formed between an outer surface of the block member and an inner surface of the float member and a second gap is formed between an outer surface of the float member and an inner surface of the valve chamber, the float member undergoing movement within the valve chamber in response to an increase in internal pressure of the main chamber to place the through-hole of the block member into and out of fluid communication with the discharge outlet through the first and second gaps to thereby control the discharge of bubbles from the discharge outlet.  
     
     
       2. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 1 ; wherein the first and third chamber portions are generally cylindrical-shaped and a diameter of the first chamber portion is greater than that of the third chamber portion. 
     
     
       3. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 2 ; wherein the second chamber portion has a generally inverted conical shape. 
     
     
       4. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 1 ; wherein the block member is generally cylindrical-shaped and is integral with a substrate for engaging an upper end of the first chamber portion. 
     
     
       5. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 1 ; wherein the float member comprises a cylindrical wall surrounding the block member and an upper plate closing an upper end of the cylindrical wall; wherein during movement of the float member within the valve chamber, the upper plate of the float member opens and closes an open end of the through-hole of the block member to place the discharge outlet into and out of fluid communication with the first chamber portion of the main chamber through the first and second gaps. 
     
     
       6. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 5 ; wherein the cylindrical wall of the float member has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the block member so that the first gap is formed between the outer surface of the block member and the inner surface of the float member. 
     
     
       7. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 1 ; further comprising a ring member disposed in the valve chamber and between the outer surface of the float member and an inner surface of the valve chamber so that the second gap is disposed between the outer surface of the float member and an inner surface of the ring member and so that a third gap is formed between an outer surface of the ring member and the inner surface of the valve chamber; wherein the ring member undergoes movement within the valve chamber in response to a change in internal pressure in the second gap. 
     
     
       8. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 7 ; wherein a width of each of the first, second and third gaps in the diametrical direction thereof is selected so that the bubbles separated from the fluid can effectively pass therethrough without passing the fluid. 
     
     
       9. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 8 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises a water-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first, second and third gaps is from about 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. 
     
     
       10. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 8 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises a water-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first, second and third gaps is from about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. 
     
     
       11. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 8 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises an oil-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first, second and third gaps is from about 0.2 mm to 1 mm. 
     
     
       12. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 8 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises a oil-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first, second and third gaps is from about 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       13. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 1 ; wherein a width of each of the first and second gaps in the diametrical direction thereof is selected so that the bubbles separated from the fluid can effectively pass therethrough without passing the fluid. 
     
     
       14. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 13 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises a water-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first and second gaps is from about 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. 
     
     
       15. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 13 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises a water-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first and second gaps is from about 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. 
     
     
       16. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 13 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises an oil-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first and second gaps is from about 0.2 mm to 1 mm. 
     
     
       17. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 13 ; wherein the fluid containing entrained bubbles comprises a oil-type fluid; and wherein the width of each of the first and second gaps is from about 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       18. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 1 ; wherein the float member comprises a cylindrical wall surrounding the block member and an upper plate closing an upper end of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       19. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 18 ; wherein a range of movement of the float member within the valve chamber is limited by a distance between an upper surface portion of the block member and an inner upper surface of the valve chamber; wherein when fluid does not enter the through-hole of the block member from the first chamber portion of the main chamber, a lower surface of the upper plate of the float member abuts the upper surface portion of the block member to close an open end of the through-hole of the block member to thereby block the discharge outlet from fluid communication with the first chamber portion of the main chamber; wherein when fluid enters the through-hole of the block member, pressure generated by the fluid causes the float member to move away from the block member to open the open end of the through-hole of the block member and place the discharge outlet in fluid communication with the first chamber portion of the main chamber through the gaps; and wherein when the pressure generated by the fluid is higher than a preselected pressure, the float member is caused to move away from the block member until an upper surface of the upper plate of the float member abuts the inner upper surface of the valve chamber and closes the discharge outlet. 
     
     
       20. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 19 ; wherein a distance between the upper surface portion of the block member and the inner upper surface of the valve chamber is selected so that when the upper surface of the upper plate of the float member abuts the inner upper surface of the valve chamber, the float member does not come away from the block member. 
     
     
       21. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 19 ; wherein in the condition in which the pressure generated by the fluid is not higher than the preselected pressure and the pressure causes the float member to move away from the block member to open the open end of the through-hole of the block member and place the discharge outlet in fluid communication with the first chamber portion of the main chamber through the gaps, bubbles separated from the fluid are permitted to pass through the first and second gaps and discharge through the discharge outlet. 
     
     
       22. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 21 ; wherein a range of movement of the float member in said condition is from 1 mm to 5 mm as measured from the inner upper surface of the valve chamber to the upper surface of the upper plate of the float member. 
     
     
       23. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 21 ; wherein a range of movement of the float member in said condition is from 1 mm to 3 mm as measured from the inner upper surface of the valve chamber to the upper surface of the upper plate of the float member. 
     
     
       24. A bubble-removing apparatus comprising: 
       a main body having a main chamber;  
       means for introducing a fluid containing entrained bubbles into the main chamber and for causing the fluid to rotate about a central axis of the main chamber so that the entrained bubbles are caused to separate from the fluid and collect around the central axis;  
       an outflow port disposed in the main body for discharging the fluid from which entrained bubbles have been separated;  
       a discharge outlet for discharging the bubbles separated from the fluid;  
       a valve chamber disposed between the discharge outlet and the main chamber of the main body;  
       a block member disposed in the valve chamber and having a through-hole in fluid communication with the main chamber of the main body; and  
       a float member disposed in the valve chamber for undergoing movement therein relative to the block member, the float member being disposed over the block member so that a plurality of gaps are formed between the block member, the float member and the valve chamber, the float member undergoing movement within the valve chamber in response to internal pressure changes within the main chamber to place the through-hole of the block member into and out of fluid communication with the discharge outlet through the plurality of gaps to thereby control the discharge of the separated bubbles from the discharge outlet.  
     
     
       25. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 24 ; wherein the introducing means includes means for introducing the fluid in the main chamber in a tangential direction of the main chamber. 
     
     
       26. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 24 ; further comprising a cover member connected to an upper end of the main body and having the valve chamber. 
     
     
       27. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 26 ; wherein the discharge outlet is formed in the cover member and has a central axis coincident with the central axis of the main chamber of the main body. 
     
     
       28. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 26 ; wherein the block member has a base disposed between the cover member and the upper end of the main body. 
     
     
       29. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 26 ; wherein the block member is formed in one piece with the cover member. 
     
     
       30. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 29 ; further comprising a fixing plate connected the cover member; and wherein the discharge outlet is formed in the fixing plate and has a central axis coincident with the central axis of the main chamber of the main body. 
     
     
       31. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 24 ; further comprising a stationary rod disposed in the main chamber along the central axis of the main chamber; wherein the introducing means includes means for introducing the fluid containing entrained bubbles into the main chamber and for causing the fluid to rotate about the central axis of the main chamber so that the entrained bubbles are caused to separate from the fluid and collect around the stationary rod. 
     
     
       32. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 24 ; wherein the introducing means comprises at least one inflow port disposed in the main body for introducing the fluid containing entrained bubbles tangentially into the main chamber. 
     
     
       33. A bubble-removing apparatus according to  claim 32 ; wherein the at least one inflow port comprises a plurality of inflow ports disposed in the main body.